(Lufkin, TEXAS – August 19, 2026) — Angelina College, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, and National Fitness Campaign (NFC) today announced a partnership to bring an outdoor Fitness Court® and digital wellness programming to Angelina College. The Fitness Court®, located at behind the activity center, will open September 2nd at 10:00 AM with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
This Fitness Court® was developed by Angelina College, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, and NFC to expand free access to high-quality workouts and create equitable access to exercise for communities across the region. The Fitness Court® is the world’s best outdoor gym, letting users leverage their own body weight to get a complete workout using seven exercise stations.
Created for adults of all abilities aged 14+, the Fitness Court® workouts are adaptable for all fitness levels, allowing participants to move at their own pace. Users may also download the free Fitness Court® App, which acts as a coach-in-your-pocket and enhances the outdoor gym into a digitally supported wellness experience. Angelina College is one of 50+ Campaign Partners building a network of Fitness Courts across the state, with the help of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas.
“We are proud to partner with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas and National Fitness Campaign to bring this incredible resource to Angelina College and to Lufkin,” Dr. Michael Simon, president of Angelina College, said. “Our campus belongs to this community, and the Fitness Court gives us another opportunity to welcome the community onto our campus while supporting health and wellness. We encourage everyone to come out and take advantage of this new resource.”
“Physical activity is one of the simplest and most powerful ways to improve overall health,” Dr. Mark Chassay, chief medical officer at BCBSTX, said. “By investing in Fitness Courts across Texas, we’re creating more opportunities for people to move, connect, and build healthier, more equitable communities for the future.”
“We are excited to have Angelina College join us in the journey to improve health and wellness as we work to make a powerful and long-lasting impact on health outcomes and happiness by building healthy communities across America,’’ Mitch Menaged, founder of National Fitness Campaign, said. “The addition of the outdoor Fitness Court, along with digital wellness programming, demonstrates a tremendous commitment to the health and wellbeing within the Lufkin community.”
Residents are invited to attend the launch event on September 2nd at 10:00 AM to try the Fitness Court®. For more information, visit angelina.edu/news or contact Angelina College at 936-639-1301. For more information on Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas’s support of NFC, please visit https://www.nationalfitnesscampaign.com/texas.
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Angelina College
Angelina College, established in 1968, is a comprehensive community college serving East Texas and beyond. The College offers more than 60 degree and certificate programs, including academic transfer pathways, workforce and technical training, and continuing education opportunities. Angelina College is committed to providing accessible, affordable, and high-quality education that empowers students to achieve their goals. With flexible learning options, including many fully online programs, and a student-centered approach, Angelina College prepares learners for career success, university transfer, and lifelong achievement.
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas
Celebrating 95 years of helping improve the health of Texans, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas — the only statewide, customer-owned health insurer in Texas — is the largest provider of health benefits in the state, working with more than 168,000 physicians and health care practitioners, and 550 hospitals to serve eight million members in all 254 counties. BCBSTX is a Division of Health Care Service Corporation (which operates Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Texas, Illinois, Montana, Oklahoma, and New Mexico). Health Care Service Corporation is a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
About National Fitness Campaign
Founded in San Francisco in 1979, National Fitness Campaign (NFC) is a wellness consulting firm that provides programs and services to cities, schools and sponsors. Our mission is to build healthy communities nationwide. The campaign delivers an integrated wellness initiative, centered around the Fitness Court®– the world’s best outdoor gym. National Fitness Campaign is preparing to welcome its 750th healthy community in 2026, as it continues to grow the country’s largest public-private partnership in support of wellness with the goal of building a Fitness Court® within a 10-minute bike ride of every American. Learn more about National Fitness Campaign at nationalfitnesscampaign.com and follow along on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
